The Seven "I AMs" in John's Gospel

And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14 (KJV)

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them. Exodus 6:3 (KJV)

God told Moses that His name is I AM, or I AM That I AM. From that was derived the Hebrew name Yahweh, or Jehovah as we know it. It means the God Who is present and active. I AM indicates God will be what He needs to be.

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58 (KJV) emphasis mine

In this statement, Jesus called Himself I AM, which enraged the Jews because He was referring to Himself as God. I AM points to the self-existent One, the ever-present One, the One who is active. Yahweh, or Jehovah, is His covenant-keeping name, showing Him to be a covenant-keeping God. It is interesting to go through the Gospel of John and look at the seven “I AMs” of Jesus, or the seven times Jesus used I AM to describe Himself. It is a double-reference, because it shows how He will be whatever is needed, plus it shows Him using His name of I AM to show his divinity. Let’s look at the seven I AM statements of Jesus noted in the book of John.

I AM #1: The Bread of Life

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 (KJV) emphasis mine

Jesus came to give us His life. As we partake of Jesus, like the Israelites partook of manna in the wilderness daily, we have life. Jesus is also called the Word, so as we feed on the Word of God every day, we feed on life. Jesus is bread for our hungry spirits, souls, and bodies.

I AM #2: The Light

 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 (KJV) emphasis mine

Jesus is the Light of the World. He enables us to see God and His Word, giving us wisdom, revelation, and truth.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I John 1:7 (KJV)

As we walk in Jesus, we walk in the light of God’s Word. Then, Jesus’ blood cleanses us fromboth known and unknown sin. God’s got us covered. We’ve gone from darkness to light, and we are children of the Light

I AM #3: The Door

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep…. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:7, 9 (KJV) emphasis mine

Jesus is the Door to the Father. As we enter through Jesus, we are saved and have fellowship with the Father. Those who go through the Door can know God. Jesus is the Door to salvation and all we need. As the Door, Jesus has keys to close wrong doors for us and open right ones.

I AM #4: The Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep…. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:11, 14 (KJV) emphasis mine

As the Good Shpeherd, Jesus gave His life for the sheep. Jesus knows us as His own and we know Him. Psalm 23 gives us a revelation of Christ as the Good Shepherd.

I AM #5: The Resurrection & The Life

 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25 (KJV) emphasis mine

Jesus was raised from the dead, which guarantees that we will also be raised from death to life. Jesus lives. He lives in us, and we live in Him.

I AM #6: The Way, the Truth & the Life

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 (KJV) emphasis mine

Jesus is the only way to be saved. Jesus is the only truth and the only way to know God. He is the only way to have life both now and for all eternity because He is Life. The early church was actually known as The Way, referring to them being followers of Jesus Christ, The Way. There is simply no other way to God, no other Truth, and no other Life and source of Life besides Jesus.

I AM #7: The Vine

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 (KJV) emphasis mine

A branch gets its life from the nutrients that flow through the vine, or the trunk, of a tree or other such plant. In the same way, Jesus is our life source. As we stay connected to Him, we live. We draw from Him all we need to produce much fruit.

Conclusion

Seven is the number that represents completion in the Bible. Jesus is the complete package. The seven “I AMs” of Jesus show Him to be all we need. It shows Him as the only Way, Name, and Person by Whom we can be saved, have eternal life, and know God. I AM shows Jesus to be God. As we give our hearts and lives to Him, we can experience all He is.